Top negotiators from the United States and Iran are set to meet again in Oman on Saturday, aiming to make progress towards a new agreement that would curb Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme.
The meeting will involve Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who will negotiate indirectly through Omani mediators.
The talks follow a productive round of discussions in Rome last week, which both sides described as constructive.
The new discussions are expected to begin at expert level, with the aim of setting the stage for direct talks between the two lead negotiators.
US President Donald Trump expressed confidence in securing a deal, saying: “I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran.”
However, significant differences remain over the nuclear dispute, which has persisted for over two decades.
The US has withdrawn from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers and imposed a stringent “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran, reimposing crippling sanctions. In response, Iran has breached the terms of the pact, particularly in its nuclear activities.
Iran has accelerated its uranium enrichment, reaching up to 60% purity, a significant step towards the 90% purity required for weapons-grade uranium.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that a new deal would require Iran to cease all uranium enrichment and import any enriched uranium it needs for its Bushehr nuclear power plant.
However, Tehran is unwilling to make such concessions, insisting that ending its enrichment programme or surrendering its enriched uranium stockpiles are “red lines” that cannot be crossed.
Iranian officials have stated that their country will consider negotiating some limits on its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
The talks have also highlighted concerns over Iran’s missile programme, which Tehran insists is non-negotiable.
An Iranian official said that Tehran views its missile programme as an even greater obstacle to reaching an agreement than its nuclear work.
The outcome of these talks will have significant implications for regional and global security, and it remains to be seen whether the two sides can find common ground.
A successful deal would not only benefit the two countries but also contribute to regional and global stability.
